The Pacman Frog is a type of frog that is native to much of South America with their range extending from Colombia to Northern Argentina.
These frogs are after becoming very popular in captivity due to their stunning appearance, easy care requirements and docile nature.
The Pacman Frog gets its name from the vintage video game character of the same name. The frogs round body and large mouth somewhat resembles the games yellow character.
These frogs grow fast and reach their adult size within around a year. They can grow to around 6 inches in length with females typically being larger than males.
Pacman Frog Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Family that the Pacman Frog belongs to is called Ceratophryidae and these frogs are sometimes referred to as Common Horned Frogs.
This is a small family of frogs that are all native to South America. There are only three different genera in this family and a total of 12 different species.
The three genera in the family are Ceratophrys, Chacophrys and the Lepidobatrachus genus.
The Chacophrys genus only contains one species called Chacophrys pierottii. It is commonly known as the Chaco horned frog.
This species is native to parts of Northern Argentina, Eastern Bolivia and Western Paraguay.
The Lepidobatrachus genus contains three species. These are Lepidobatrachus asper or the Paraguayan Horned Frog, Lepidobatrachus laevis or the Budgett’s frog and Lepidobatrachus llanensis or the llanos frog.
Pacman Frog Genus
The Pacman Frog genus is called Chacophrys. It is important to remember that the Pacman Frog isnt actually a species, it is a genus so all of the species in this genus are Pacman Frogs.
Besides Pacman Frogs, you may here people referring to these frogs as South American Horned Frogs.
There is no difference between the two. It is simply two different common names to describe the collection of frogs in this genus.
There are currently 8 recognised species of Pacman Frog. We will look at each of these species in a little more detail.
Brazilian Horned Frog
The Brazilian Horned Frog or Wied’s Frog is a species of frog that is native to parts of Brazil.
Its scientific name is Ceratophrys aurita and there are no recognised sub-species. The species was first described in 1823 by an Italian botanist named Giuseppe Raddi.
They can be found in sub-tropical humid habitats such as freshwater marshes, moist lowland forests and ponds.
Colombian Horned Frog
The Colombian Horned Frog or Venezuelan Horned frog can be found in a variety of habitats from dry scrubland and savannas to freshwater marshes in Colombia and Venezuela.
Its scientific name is Ceratophrys calcarata and there are currently no recognised sub-species of this Pacman Frog.
The species was first described in 1890 by a Belgian-British zoologist named George Albert Boulenger.
Surinam Horned Frog
The Surinam Horned Frog is a species of Pacman Frog that is native to the Northern parts of South America.
This is a large species of Pacman Frog that can grow to over 20cm in length. They are sometimes referred to as the Amazonian Horned Frog.
The scientific name for this species is Ceratophrys cornuta and there are no recognised sub-species.
The species was first described in 1758 by a Swedish zoologist named Carl Linnaeus.
Linnaeus is credited for formalising binomial nomenclature which is the modern system of naming organisms. He has described a large number of reptiles including the Yellow Footed Tortoise, the Common Slow Worm, the Green Ameiva, the Eastern Copperhead, the Mediterranean House Gecko, the Northern Water Snake and the Banded Water Snake.He also described the Ringneck Snake, the Blunthead Three Snake, the Rainbow Lizard, the Greek Tortoise, the Desert Horned Viper and the Nile Monitor.
Cranwell’s Horned Frog
The Cranwell’s Horned frog is another species of Pacman Frog. It is sometimes referred to as the Chacoan Horned Frog.
It is native to the Gran Chaco region which covers part of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.
The scientific name for this species is Ceratophrys cranwelli and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
The species was first recognised in 1980 after previously being described by a Spanish-Argentine herpetologist named Avelino Barrio.
Joazeiro Horned Frog
The Joazeiro Horned Frog is another species of Pacman frog that is native to parts of Brazil. It is also referred to as the Caatinga Horned Frog.
The scientific name for this species is Ceratophrys joazeirensis and there are currently no recognised sub-species. It was first described in 1986.
Argentine Horned Frog
The Argentine Horned Frog is the most common species of Pacman Frog and can be found and can be found in the grasslands of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
This species is known by a couple of different common names including the Ornate Pacman Frog, the Ornate Horned Frog or simply just the Pacman Frog.
The scientific name for this species is Ceratophrys ornata and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
This popular species of frog was first described in 1843 by an English zoologist named Thomas Bell.
Pacific Horned Frog
As its name suggests, the Pacific Horned Frog is a species of Pacman Frog that is native to parts of the Pacific Coast region of South America. It can be found in parts of Ecuador and Peru.
This frog also has a number of different common names including the Stolzmann’s Horned Frog and the Ecuadorian Horned Frog.
However, it causes confusion to call this species the Ecuadorian Horned Frog as there is another species that goes by that name.
The scientific name for this species is Ceratophrys stolzmanni and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
The species was first described in 1882 by an Austrian herpetologist named Franz Steindachner.
Ecuadorian Horned Frog
The Ecuadorian Horned Frog is a species of Pacman Frog that is only found in the montane forests and freshwater marshes of Ecuador.
The scientific name for this species is Ceratophrys testudo and there are currently no recognised sub-species. It was first described in 1945.
Pacman Frog Description
As there are a number of different species of Pacman Frog, the appearance of these frogs varies but they have a number of common features which makes them easily identifiable as South American Horned Frogs.
These frogs typically have very round, plump bodies and large mouths. It is these features that people say resemble the Pacman arcade character, which gives the frogs their common name.
The frogs in this genus are typically green in color and can have patterning or blotches of different colors along their body.
A huge variety of color and pattern mutations have been bred into these frogs in captivity but these mutations typically aren’t found in the wild.
The size of these frogs can also vary from species to species but they are all relatively large and have rounded bodies.
The Brazilian Horned Frog has a typical Pacman Frog appearance with its large rounded body that is green in color with brown patterning along its body.
Sometimes the brown patterning is so intense that it washes out the green base color.
These frogs have two horns on the top of their head that extend upwards from the eye, almost like a raised eyebrow.
They also have two vertical ridges that extend upwards from the middle of their back.
The Surinam Horned Frog is one of the species of Pacman frog commonly kept in captivity. This species can reach lengths of up to 20cm.
The Cranwell’s Horned Frog is another species that is commonly kept in captivity although this one is smaller, typically growing to around 10cm in length.
The Argentine Horned frog is the other Pacman Frog that is often kept in captivity. This is the most common species found in most places.
These frogs can reach over 15cm in length but males are usually a little smaller than this. They can usually live for around 10 years in captivity.
These frogs ate basically mouths with legs, with their mouth making up around half of their body. This doesn’t go to waste however, as they are ferocious feeders.
These frogs typically have a light to dark green base color wit brown and red ornate patterning all over their bodies.
A huge variety of color and pattern morphs have been bred into these Pacman Frogs in captivity.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The different species of Pacman Frog can be found throughout much of South America. The only places they aren’t found is in Southern Argentina and Chile.
In the Northern parts of South America, these frogs can be found in parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guinea.
Their range then extends down into places such as Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.
They can also be found throughout much of the Northern parts of Argentina. Their range extends slightly into Chile but their distribution is cut off by the mountain ranges of the region.
While each of these species has their own individual geographical range and habitat niche, it is difficult to precisely pinpoint each of these ranges.
This is due to the remoteness of some of these places and a lack of verifiable information.
However, according to sightings on I-Naturalist, we can give rough estimates of the ranges of each of these species.
The Brazilian Horned Frog is native to parts of the Brazilian Atlantic Coast. These Pacman Frogs have been spotted from Salvador to Sao Paolo.
The distribution of these frogs may extend a bit inland but this area is more remote and no sightings have been registered far from the coast.
As its name suggests, the Colombian Horned Frog is a species of Pacman Frog that is native to parts of Colombia.
They are sometimes referred to as the Venezuelan Horned Frog as they can also be found in parts of Venezuelan.
These frogs can be found in the Northern parts of Colombia in places such as Monteria, Cartagena and Barranquilla.
Their range then extends into a small part of North-Eastern Venezuela but it looks like their range may be cut off by the mountain ranges of the region.
The Suriname Horned Frog or Amazonian Horned Frog has a very large geographical distribution that extends throughout much of the Northern half of South America.
In the Northern portion of their range, they can be found in parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guinea.
Their range then extends Southwards into places such as Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and much of North-Western Brazil.
The Cranwell’s Horned Frog can be found throughout much of the Central parts of South America.
This Pacman Frog can be found in places such as Bolivia, Paraguay and Northern Argentina. They may also be present in a small region of South-Western Brazil.
The Joazeiro Horned Frog is a species of Pacman Frog that can be found in parts of Eastern Brazil.
The Ecuadorian Horned frog is a Pacman Frog that is only found in parts of Ecuador while the Pacific Horned Frog is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The Argentine Horned Frog is one the most common species of Pacman Frog. It can be found in parts of Argentina and Uruguay. It is also believed to be present in parts of Northern Brazil.
Pacman Frogs as Pets
The Pacman Frog can make a great pet for anyone looking to get into amphibians or even for experienced keepers looking at getting a new species.
These frogs are very easy to care for and are considered a ‘low maintenance’ animal as they require a lot less interaction than many other reptiles or amphibians.
However, this does not mean that you can simply buy a Frog and it will look after itself. You still need to ensure they are adequately cared for.
As we discussed, the Pacman Frog is a genus of frogs with a number of different species. Some of these species are more popular in captivity than others.
The vast majority of Pacman Frogs that are kept as pets are either the Argentine Pacman Frog (Ornate), the Suriname Pacman Frog or the Cranwell’s Horned Frog.
Some of the other frogs do pop up in collections from time to time but are far less common than the ones mentioned above.
They are a terrestrial species of frog, meaning they will spend their time on land as opposed to in water.
They have a ferocious appetite and can eat food that is almost the same size as the Frog itself. You are not going to have issues getting these guys to take a meal.
Handling a Pacman Frog
It is not recommended to interact with your Pacman Frog on a daily basis as this is a solitary animal that simply wants to be left alone.
Handling should be kept to a minimal and you should only really pick them up when cleaning, putting them in a new enclosure or inspecting them for any health issues.
If you are handling your Pacman Frog, you will need to wash your hands or put on gloves. The frog’s skin is very sensitive and can absorb toxins or chemicals (perfumes/lotions) from your skin.
This really is a hands-off species that should be admired from a distance. However, there isn’t much to watch as their activity level is so low.
Pacman Frog Enclosure
The Pacman Frog is a solitary species that should be housed alone. These frogs can be aggressive so they should never be kept in an enclosure with other frogs.
They are even known to attack and eat other Pacman Frogs especially if kept in an enclosure with a smaller frog.
Although these frogs can grow quite large, they don’t need a very large enclosure as they are not a very large species.
Depending on the species, you can house an adult Pacman Frog in a two or three foot long enclosure.
Height isn’t overly important as these frogs are a terrestrial species and don’t climb. However, it will need to be large enough to cater for a deep layer of substrate.
You generally don’t need to worry about your Frog escaping out the top of the enclosure so a cover is optional.
There can be benefits and drawbacks to using a cover in your enclosure. The main benefit of an open lid is air circulation.
Without a lid, the air inside the enclosure is constantly being moved and will stay as fresh as possible as opposed to somewhat stagnant air in a screened enclosure.
The drawback is that it can be very hard to maintain temperature and humidity levels without a lid. Unless you live in a very humid environment, a lid will probably be necessary.
Pacman Frog Substrate
The Pacman Frog is a terrestrial species that spends its time on land as opposed to in water. It lives in humid grasslands and forests which will need to be replicated in captivity.
In order to maintain these high levels of humidity, you will need a substrate that can hold humidity well without spoiling.
Coco Fibre is the go-to substrate for many Pacman Frog owners as it is very cheap, holds humidity well, promotes burrowing and doesn’t soil.
These elements make it the perfect substrate for these frogs but you can use other options if you prefer.
If you do choose to use a different substrate, ensure it is not course as this can irritate your frog’s skin when it is burrowing.
You will want a layer of substrate that is at least 3 to 4 inches thick to allow your frog to fully burrow into.
You can add a layer of sphagnum moss or leaf litter above the coco fibre. This will help to retain humidity and also act as additional hiding places for your frog.
Light and Heat
These frogs like to be kept in an enclosure with an ambient temperature of around 80F. This can fluctuate by a few degrees at night but should remain relatively constant.
If you need to use supplemental heat to achieve this, an under-tank heat pad is best as heat lamps tend to suck the humidity out of the air.
You can still use overhead heat, but you will need to monitor humidity levels very closely to ensure it doesn’t become too dry.
If you are planning on purchasing one of the rarer species of Pacman Frog, you may want to look into that species specifically as they may have different temperature requirements.
Most people don’t provide UVB lighting for their frog’s enclosure and they still go on to live long and healthy lives so UVB is optional.
In the wild, these frogs’ exposure to UVB is likely very low as many of the species are found buried in the soil beneath the thick canopy of forests.
If you do choose to use UV lighting, a low index bulb can be kept on for 12 hours a day. Your Frog should have 12 hours of darkness for a proper day/night cycle.
Water and Humidity
You should aim for humidity levels of between 60-80% in your Pacman Frog enclosure.
Again, if you are looking into some of the rarer species you may want to verify that their humidity requirements are the same.
However, most people keep their frogs in this humidity range and have great success with them. It is important to remember that it is natural for the humidity to fluctuate throughout the day.
After misting, you will get a humidity spike where the humidity will rise to 80+ percent. This will gradually fall throughout the day until the enclosure is sprayed again.
The aim is to keep the humidity high but don’t worry if you see it drop to around 50%. Just give it another spray.
The air in the enclosure and the top layer of soil will dry faster so your Frog can still find high humidity in its burrow.
The aim is to keep humidity high without ‘wetting’ the substrate. You want your substrate to be damp, you are not looking to create a swimming pool.
Over spraying the enclosure can lead to swampy conditions which are a breeding ground for bacteria.
You can also include a shallow water dish in the enclosure. This will help with humidity and also gives the Frog somewhere to go if the humidity does get a little bit low.
This water needs to be kept clean and changed regularly as your Frog may drink from it, although they will get most of their moisture from their surroundings and the food that they eat.
Pacman Frog Diet
Pacman Frogs are ferocious feeders and will eagerly pounce on almost anything you throw in their enclosure.
These frogs are basically mouths with legs and can consume prey much larger than a traditional Frog would.
Because of this, feeding your Frog is rarely ever an issue. However, overfeeding is easy and needs to be carefully monitored to prevent your Pacman Frog from becoming obese.
They can eat prey that is almost the size of themselves but should be fed smaller items most of the time to make it easier for the frog and its digestive system.
A Juvenile Pacman Frog will have a ferocious appetite and will grow quite fast. They will need to be fed more frequently than an adult to help them grow.
You can feed a juvenile a wide range of prey. In fact, a varied diet is important to ensure that they receive all the nutrients they need.
You can feed these frogs things like Crickets, roaches, mealworms, super worms, waxworms and other feeder insects that you can find in your local reptile store.
It is important to gut load the insects prior to feeding them to your Pacman Frog to ensure your frog gets the maximum amount of nutrients from the meal.
Gut loading is where the feeder insects are fed a nutritious meal before being offered to your pet. The more nutrients the insect gets, the more nutrients your pet will get.
A juvenile Pacman Frog can be fed daily as they need the energy to grow but you can cut back on feedings when they are older.
It is hard to give an exact feeding schedule for these frogs as it really depends on their size and the size of the prey they are eating.
You will be able to tell if you are overfeeding or underfunding by monitoring the frogs body condition. For example, if they are getting too round and fat, you are overfeeding and need to cut back a bit.
As a guide, a juvenile might eat around five appropriately sized crickets or roaches every day. This will vary depending on the size of the crickets.
Many keepers use the 15-minute rule. This involves placing dusted crickets in the enclosure and allowing them to eat as many as they want within 15 minutes.
After the 15 minutes are up, any uneaten crickets are removed from the enclosure.
An adult Pacman Frog can be fed a similar way. However, their appetite and need for energy reduces as they are no longer rapidly growing.
As a result, these frogs can be cut back to being fed every second day. They can also be offered mice on occasion for a nutritional boost. One mouse every 2 or 3 weeks is enough.
Pacman Frog Behaviour
The Pacman Frog is a very food orientated species and will eagerly pounce on any unsuspecting prey that is small enough to fit in its large mouth.
They are ambush predators that will sit and wait in their burrows for extensive periods of time for an unsuspecting meal to walk by.
These frogs are extremely territorial and will attack and bite any other frog that tries to approach its burrow.
Because of this, it is important that Pacman Frog owners only house one frog in each enclosure. Even a large enclosure isn’t suitable for two frogs.
These frogs are nocturnal meaning they are mostly active during the night and will spend their day resting in their burrows.
During the day, they will often be fully submerged beneath the substrate of they will just have the tip of their head sticking out.
While they are ‘more active’ at night, their behaviour isn’t much different to during the day as they will still spend most of their time buried in the soil.
However, at night they may emerge from time to time to stretch their legs, soak in a bit of water or just explore their surroundings a bit.
Pacman Frog Health Issues
A Pacman Frog is a solitary species that will spend most of its time in its burrow so don’t be alarmed if you don’t see your frog out and about.
These frogs can go an extensive period of time without even moving so it can be a bit daunting for new Frog owners and they often think there is something wrong with their new pet.
However, there are a few easy tell-tale signs to give you peace of mind that your frog is healthy.
These include your frog’s appetite. Pacman Frogs are ferocious feeders so they should have a good appetite and eagerly consume prey that is offered to them.
You can also monitor their body tone. A healthy frog should have a rounded body, clear eyes and moist skin.
There are a number of health conditions that can affect a Pacman Frog. The good news is that many of these can be prevented through proper husbandry.
However, these frogs are like any other animal and can become sick at any time, regardless of how well they are taken care of so it is important to have the details of a good reptile vet at hand in case of an emergency.
Bacterial and fungal infections can be quite common in amphibians and these types of conditions can affect Pacman Frogs also.
These infections can be caused by a variety of factors including inadequate humidity in the enclosure, poor hygiene or swampy conditions.
Look out for signs of swelling, redness or pus. These can all be indications that your frog has a bacterial or fungal infection.
Parasites can also affect these frogs. Internal parasites can be detected by your vet during a faecal exam.
Vitamin A deficiency can occur if a Pacman Frog is not fed a balanced, nutrient rich diet.
Signs of Vitamin A deficiency include rough skin and swollen eyelids. You may also notice a build-up of fluid around the frog’s hind legs.
You can prevent this by feeding your frog a varied diet of gut loaded insects. You can also sprinkle a multivitamin on crickets prior to feeding.
